In 1996, Brooklyn-born rapper Lil’ Kim premiered her provocative debut studio album Hard Core, proving that the women of rap could shock as much as their male counterparts.
“She single-handedly raised the bar for raunchy lyrics in hip-hop, making male rappers quiver with fear with lines like “You ain’t lickin’ this, you ain’t stickin’ this…I don’t want dick tonight/Eat my pussy right” (“Not Tonight”),” wrote Rolling Stone. We’re celebrating Lil’ Kim on her 40th birthday today (or 39th, depending on who you ask) with a look at some of rap’s most provocative female artists and the hypersexual, confrontational, provocative songs that challenged the conventions of the genre. Mention your favorite artists or songs, below.
Miss B. “Bottle Action”
“I don’t fight I don’t argue I’ll just that bitch with a bottle.” Miss B. solves problems.
Khia, “My Neck, My Back”
Undoubtedly, the first song you thought of when you read our headline — and the one that will be in your head for the rest of the day.
B.W.P., “Cotex”
Bytches With Problems tackles racism, classism, and periods in one song.
Azealia Banks, “212”
Azealia Banks: happily ruining us all since 2011.
Lady, “Yankin”
Don’t admit to anyone else that you first heard about Lady on Girls.
H.W.A., “Eat This”
There’s no mistaking the all-girl trio H.W.A., Hoes With Attitudes, for the Home Warranty of America with lyrics like “Hold on for a second while I lay on the floor/ When I wrap this pussy around your goddam chin.”
Choice, “One Just Ain’t Enough”
“Yeah, I’m a hoe. But not your average hoe.” Choice just knows what she wants, ok?
Trina (Feat. Killer Mike), “Look Back At Me”
Trina’s “Look Back At Me” manages to be hilarious and sexy at the same time, with an opener that sets the mood: “I got an ass so big like the sun/ Hope you got a mile for a dick I wanna run.”
Foxy Brown, “Big Bad Mamma”
“Love yourself, put no one above thee/ Cause ain’t nobody gon’ fuck me like me, it’s on.” Self-love at its finest.
Gangsta Boo and La Chat, “Buss It”
Three 6 Mafia not necessary. Gangsta Boo and La Chat don’t need the backing of a group to tell you what’s up: “Y’all bitches ain’t no killers/ Y’all bitches some hoes.”